Athletes of the week: Gatluak and Higgason
The LHS boys basketball team took home third place in the 2017 state basketball tournament. Gatluak is pictured in the back row seventh from the left and Higgason is pictured in the front row tenth to the left.
March 24, 2017
This past weekend the state basketball tournament took place in Rapid City where the LHS boys basketball team placed third. All-Tournament members were chosen, and from LHS, junior Diang Gatluak and senior Simon Higgason earned this honor for their play during the tournament. Both displayed scoring ability and helped bring their team far in the tournament.
Among their All-Tournament awards, they both earned several other awards to cap off their excellent seasons. Gatluak was chosen as All-City and All-Conference teams, and he was voted MVP by his teammates as well as earning the leading rebounder and leading scorer team awards at the LHS basketball banquet held Thursday night. Higgason was also chosen to be on the All-City team and got voted best defensive player by his teammates.
“[In the state tournament] both players were our leading scorers, which the people who pick the team focus on, at 11.3 points per game,” said coach Scott Embry. “Diang also averaged nine rebounds per game and 3.3 assists. Simon hit big shots at crucial times in our two wins.”
All season these two, along with several other players, had big shoes to fill as they were the two-time reigning state champions. This year, their roles were bigger and both Higgason and Gatluak were up for the challenge.
“Diang was asked to play as our ‘big’ which he had to adjust to on both ends of the court,” said Embry. “He always defended the other team’s best post player but we weren’t afraid to switch and he often times ended up guarding a wing. Offensively, we had plays where he was the post and we had plays where he was the point guard and plays that were set up for him to shoot 3s. Simon was obviously a long range shooter – the whole state knows that and he still made 52 3s this year. Simon also seemed to get big steals and rebounds at crucial times in games. With his shooting range teams had to always be aware of where he was and this opens up shots, space, and opportunities for his teammates.”
Overall, it was a great end of the season for two deserving players in Gatluak and Higgason. They helped to lead the Pats to success with their skill and leadership qualities, and they continued to work hard all season in an attempt to repeat last year’s championship run.
“When they are focused in and on their game they both do great things for the team – scoring, rebounding, defending, passing and steals,” said Embry.
